by Mike Memoli
President Obama is en route to Texas now, where he's scheduled to speak at a pair of fundraisers and deliver remarks on higher education at the University of Texas. And again, in a state where his job approval rating is perilously low, he'll find few prominent Democrats there to greet him.
Just like last week when the president traveled to Georgia, the Democratic nominee for governor will not be on hand for any of the events featuring his party's leader. Former Houston Mayor Bill White, who some believe is Texas Democrats' best shot of winning back the governor's mansion since George W. Bush won the office in 1994, is curiously across the state sticking with his schedule, his campaign has said.
Much has been made this year of how certain Democratic candidates don't want to be seen with Obama, given his poor numbers in a given state or district. Peter Nicholas spoke last week with another Texas Democrat who planned to avoid the event: Attorney General nominee Barbara Ann Radnofsky. She said Obama hasn't done enough to take on Wall Street. As for White's decision not to be on hand, the White House says it understands.
"I don't think that it says anything broadly about the President's coattails," deputy press secretary Bill Burton said on Air Force One today. "He thinks that candidates should make their own decisions about how best to spend their time. He definitely does not take that as an insult."
The efficacy of this strategy is unclear, however. Texas news organizations have all pointed out how White is seemingly distancing himself from Obama, perhaps a headache the campaign deems preferable to the candidate being seen with him, but a headache nonetheless. And Gov. Rick Perry's (R) campaign is making hay of the visit, regardless of whether White is there -- even launching this web video parodying a famous viral clip from the 2008 campaign.
What's even more glaring about the strategy of avoidance is this twist: Perry, looking to win his third full term as governor this year, will be appearing with the president. He's set to greet him at the airport, and reportedly will use the opportunity to discuss immigration policy.
Why couldn't White also appear with the president, and say to any votes who would potentially change their vote solely for that reason that he used it as an opportunity to discuss issues important to Texas with the leader of the free world? If you don't want to risk appearing with Obama at a partisan pep rally, why not join him for a policy event like the president's speech on education policy -- an area where the White House actually says they admired President Bush's willingness to make aggressive changes?
White House officials said Sunday not to expect the same kind of anti-Bush message in Texas that voters heard last week in Atlanta. But he will continue to make a strong contrast with the GOP, on the economic specifically.
"These are not just the Bush economic policies. We're not trying to re-litigate the past, we're trying not to relive it," communications director Dan Pfeiffer told reporters Sunday. "These are also the McConnell policies, the Boehner policies, the policies of people like Rob Portman and others who are trying to return to office, too. People are trying to define this as Obama versus Bush. It's much more than that."
A Democratic source says that at the event benefiting the DNC in Austin, Obama will be introduced by the party's nominee for lieutenant governor, Linda Chavez-Thompson. She is a former DNC vice chairwoman and top official in the AFL-CIO, so her party stripes are well known. Of the millions being raised today, $250,000 will be specifically earmarked to Texas as part of the DNC's midterm effort, the party source said.
The chair of the state party will also be on hand as well local and state officeholders, including Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who appears safe in his re-election bid, according to the non-partisan Cook Political Report. Another safe Democrat, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, will be on hand when Obama raises money for the Senate campaign committee in Dallas later today.
(Photo Credit: Saul Loeb, AFP/ Getty Images)
Comments
Obama in Texas looking for voter support is like Obama going to the desert looking for some water. Same result.
Posted by: conservativemaster | August 9, 2010 1:01 PM
Perry Caught In Dirty Land Deals Scandal!
Last week, Repug Rick Perry found himself mired in a growing scandal over his sneaky land deals that have netted him over a million dollars while in public office:
"The Dallas Morning News found evidence that Perry's investment was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors from friends, campaign donors and the head of a Texas family with a rich history of political power-brokering."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072510dnproperryland.4474e5d.html
Now Perry has a reason for Texas to secede. As the dictator of Texghanistan, he can make his own laws.
Posted by: Rob | August 9, 2010 1:15 PM
Actually, Conservativemaster, there are a good number of Koolaid drinkers in Red State Number One. May they always remain in the minority.
Bill White was a three term mayor of Houston, a decent mayor even, particularly when you consider that he is a democrat. We thinketh however, that he has reach-eth the end of the line in his endeavor to become governor. There are folks that you should not entrust with car keys. Mustapha is certainly right about that one.
It is surprising that Barbara Radnofsky won’t meet with Mustapha. You would think that a couple of true socialists would have a lot to share. It certainly would not do anything to set back her cause.
Rick Perry has been trying to secure an audience with Mustapha for some time now to discuss border security. Difficult to imagine anything of value coming from that discussion but maybe Rick Perry will get a better gauge on what not to expect.
There are democrats in Texas, with sufficient money to sit at the Elite Table. They are not especially committed to the Socialist Movement, or any movement other than the special connections and special influence movement that benefits them in some near-unique, special way.
Mustapha is not without friends in Red State One. May they always remain in the minority. Good report, Mike Memoli.
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | August 9, 2010 1:59 PM
I thought when Obama faced the nation in that hard hitting interview on "The View" that he said everyone should stop campaigning. Did he mean everyone except himself? Does he do anything but campaign? His constant babbling is turning into background noise.
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 9, 2010 2:07 PM
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | August 9, 2010 1:59 PM
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Sociopath,
Illegal immigration is the same as it ever was, in fact it's been down the last few years because of the Bush recession. Pres Obama already knows that Clown Perry and the Repugs want to race bait over the immigration issue, why would he want to hear him lie about it in person?
Hurry up and secede already Texas Wingnutters (Django)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCLz7XQOIOQ
Posted by: Rob | August 9, 2010 2:14 PM
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 9, 2010 2:07 PM
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Yeah, what's up with Pres Obama actually working? Why doesn't he just do what Repug presidents do after they get elected?
Republican Shrub Jr Sets Presidential Vacation Record.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4728085-503544.html
Posted by: Rob | August 9, 2010 2:56 PM
TEA PARTY DRINKERS SPEAK! Too much Chicken and Change in America. Too much talk about "Education." Too much talk about Thomas Jefferson! Too much talk about Graduation! Too much talk about College Education in America. We're the Party of No! We're the TEA PARTY! He's YOU LIE! YOU LIE! While campaigning! Keep the TEA BAGS coming! Keep the TEA PARTY coming! He's still trying to take America through tthe GOP Theft by Deception Axis of continued Evil Section SB1070 Backdoors! He's YOU LIE! YOU LIE! Sarah is the EVE in EEVS! We need to "Secure the Border" 4.4 Billion Dolalrs later! We need to "turn on" the Virtual Fence! We need Federal State Budgetary Dollars in McCain Country! AZSCAM Kyl Country! No Education for you "koolaid" drinking non TEA Drinking Americans! Too many "Sotomoyor" Tacos, rice and Beans in America. Too much "Kagan" Stew on the bench! Stop the press! We're just too "evil" too fail! We're just "too racist" too fail! We are going way back! Way way way back! Repeal the 14th Amendment! Replace the 18th Amendment! We failed the Homeland! We failed at our GOP coup de America in 2008! He's YOU LIE! He's educated! Keep the TEA PARTY GOP CARS COMING, he's trying to take America through the "backdoor" of their America! College!
Posted by: Roger Morris | August 9, 2010 4:13 PM
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | August 9, 2010 1:59 PM
'
Maybe Governor Goodhair wants to meet with President Obama so he can beg for more federal money to balance his state budget while telling his teabagger supporters that Texas should just go off and become their own country.
Posted by: BC | August 9, 2010 9:59 PM
Rob/John E., thanks for the link about Bush's vacation schedule. I'm not sure how that's relevant to this story, but at least you appear to be writing your own material now. Baby steps.
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 9, 2010 10:20 PM
How can President Obama not be a star, he has changed the way we finance our children's pursuit of higher learning. No more will our students have to pay exorbitant banking fees to gain taxpayers dollars, in the form of loans, distributed by banks and subsidized by taxpayer dollars to these banks. That past practice alone will save America over 60 Billion Dollars, over the next 5-10 years. That money can now go to needy students and not to greedy bankers. Now, America can offer her children the right to a college education, in spite the fact that parents lack the funds for their children's education. That is what it means to be of a nation, not that demoralizing mentality that says you can go to war for us, as a nation, but you can't enjoy the fruits of our nation, such as a good job or a good education. Those days must end. We must start building America' manufacturing sector, again. We must change America's power grid to accommodate renewable energy sources, instead of killing our earth with the vapors and fumes of fossil fuels. This we owe to ourselves and our children. Anything less, and America will be relegated to second and third class status in the world.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 10, 2010 3:23 AM
Posted by: BC | August 9, 2010 9:59 PM
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You consistently underestimate us. Rick Perry is the governor of Tx, a state that has a clue. Rick Perry is not a King, Fuhrer, or Messiah. He is also not a beggar. Rick Perry has been a good governor. A state could do worse. Many apparently do. Yet, we lie NOT prostrate in his wake.
Texas is projecting a deficit in the next biennium. Twenty months of “Hope and Change” will do that to just about anyone. Certainly, a rational person would not elect a democrat to fix a budget problem.
However bad off Tx may ever be, the boat anchor states that the Socialists have already dismantled will be 5 times worse. DO stay wherever the heck you are. In 2012 there will “hopefully” be real change IF anyone is able to survive this disaster movie another 29 months. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | August 10, 2010 3:01 PM